India launches Chandrayaan spacecraft in bid to become fourth country on the Moon

India's space agency says it has launched an unmanned spacecraft to the far side of the moon, a week after aborting the mission due to a technical problem.

Scientists at the mission control centre burst into applause as the rocket lifted off in clear weather as scheduled at 2:43 p.m. (0913 GMT) Monday.

Chandrayaan-2, named for the Sanskrit word for "moon craft," is designed to land on the lunar south pole in September and send a rover to explore water deposits confirmed by a previous mission that orbited the moon.

India's first moon mission orbited the moon in 2008 and helped confirm the presence of water.

India plans to send its first manned spaceflight by 2022.

The launch of Chandrayaan-2 is the country's most ambitious bid yet to cement its position as a leading low-cost space power. The mission is expected to cost 10-billion rupee (£116 million).

Only the United States, Russia and China have been on the moon.